After Tre Mason's 304-yard rushing performance in the SEC Championship game, the Auburn Tigers were able to grab a spot in the national title game when Michigan State beat out Ohio State for the Big Ten title.

Michigan State's upset of previously undefeated Ohio State kept the Buckeyes out of the national title game, and the Spartans saw a bounce in the polls up to No. 4. Michigan State will face No. 5 Stanford New Year's Day at 5 p.m.

Alabama won't get to play for its third straight championship after a 109-yard return on a missed field goal on the final play of the season, in its annual rivalry game against Auburn (also known as the Iron Bowl). Instead, the Crimson Tide will have to settle for an end-of-the-season No. 3 ranking and a trip to New Orleans.

Syracuse entered the season with a new coach, in a new conference, and with an unresolved quarterback battle. It took all 12 games on the schedule to become bowl-eligible, but a 34-31 win over Boston College gave the Orange its sixth win.

By some accounts, there appears to have been some Texas A&M-related drama with LSU's bowl pick for the second straight year, but the Tigers are headed to the Outback Bowl in Tampa, where they'll play Iowa.

Oregon State had a rough trip into postseason, losing to Stanford, USC, Arizona State, Washington and Oregon in its final five games. But before that the Beavers won six straight, and will face the Boise State Broncos in Honolulu.

Michigan hasn't been to Arizona since 1986, and this year's Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl marks only the seventh time in school history the Wolverines have played a bowl game in December. Kansas State is a new foe for U-M.

It's been five years since Oregon last missed a BCS bowl, and despite their eligibility this season, the selection committee passed over the Ducks and instead sent them to San Antonio, where they face Texas on Dec. 30 at 6:45 p.m.

Mississippi State has some reason to celebrate, becoming bowl eligible in its final week of the season, a 17-10 overtime win over rival Ole Miss. Plus: This is the 50th anniversary of the Bulldogs' first appearance in the Liberty Bowl – they beat North Carolina State 16-12 in the 1963 contest.

Tulane is headed to its first bowl game in 11 years. They'll play in-state rival ULL for the 27th time, with the Green Wave winning 21 of the previous 26 meetings – though ULL won the most recent contest last season.